Our Lack of Glorification

Scripture: Glorify your name, not ours, O Lord! Cause everyone to praise your loving-kindness and your truth. Why let the nations say, "Their God is dead!" Psalm 115:1-2

Observation: The psalmist opens up this plea to the Lord - a plea that is from those who are faithful to the Lord and thus detest those who are opposed to the Lord - by asking God to glorify himself, not them. They don't want for their own success as evidence of God's greatness, but rather they want God's greatness to come forth as evidence of itself. If only God would produce overwhelming evidence of his love, then no one could possibly declare "God is dead" or any other version challenging God's existence. In such a way, God could "cause" others to worship him.

Application: This is a common prayer by many Christians, I believe ... if only God would simply provide unequivocal evidence of his existence then all convincing would be done. Of course, this will someday occur - at the end time when Jesus returns - and the point is that doing so removes the concept of faith and thus concludes the time of freewill faith.

Knowing this then, the most interesting part of this plea then are the two words "not ours". The plea is not just for God to glorify himself, but also to not glorify the faithful. This is important context for me and the church as well. We shouldn't want the church "glorified" or exalted. We shouldn't want to be honored, or proven true, or lifted up in high regard. We should simply want Jesus glorified. Period.

When Jesus is glorified, everything else about faith ... proper worship of the Lord, understanding of God's love, belief in Messiah, salvation for all, and love among the saints ... would fall into place. The ends we strive for would be achieved with just this outcome, which is glorification of Jesus.

Again, this won't openly happen, and we understand why. Even still, it is important this be our only goal, and that we - including me - set aside any aspiration for being found "right" in our faith. We are certainly tired of the world around declaring "God is dead", but we should never want anyone to replace that by thinking how great the church is. If we serve well, behave well, love well, care well ... may the end result always only be glorification of the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, as our church heads into a season that will create strife, may we find a way to glorify you, and only you, in our work and service. Let all we do only shine a light toward Jesus Christ. Amen.

There is No Ambivalence

Scripture: I will search with lanterns in Jerusalem’s darkest corners to find and punish those who sit contented in their sins, indifferent to God, thinking he will leave them alone. They are the very ones whose property will be plundered by the enemy, whose homes will be ransacked; they will never have a chance to live in the new homes they have built. They will never drink wine from the vineyards they have planted. Zephaniah 1:12-13

Observation: As the Lord pronounces his future punishment on Jerusalem, he has pronounced how he will destroy those who have actively rejected him, and who have worshipped other gods, and who have engaged in the worship of the sun and moon, and who have created idols to other deities. However, he calls out another group here ... those who are simply ambivalent.

There are people who just ignore not only the Lord, but all religion. They disregard it all, indifferent to God, and just living an earthly life. Theirs is not a death sentence, but rather a life sentence. Everything they have will be taken, and they will lose all the simple, earthly things they have like their homes, wealth, and material goods. Entirely ignoring God and rejecting the concept of any kind of worship and honor to a greater power may make them less detestable than those who worship false gods, but it does not make them less sinful.

Application: Which is worse today ... those who actively pursue some kind of false worship, or those who simply reject everything? Interestingly, when you think about it, is is obvious that there is no "continuum" of more or less worse in the eyes of Jesus Christ.

Jesus creates a binary clarity. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Those who believe in him as Messiah and the son of the Lord God almighty, creator of heaven and earth, receive eternal life. Those who don't ... don't. It doesn't really matter if they have a different god, or if they reject all belief systems, or if they believe God exists but don't see value to worshipping and believing in him.

So many today are actually ambivalent. They proceed in life without any thought that the existence of God could matter in their lives, so they don't care either way and decide to never give it a second thought. This certainly creates the other emotions we see in society around us. In the hearts of those indifferent to God, joy and praise and comfort are supplanted by anxiety and fear and discontent. Peace is supplanted by anger. Worship is supplanted by rioting.

In the end, ambivalence in the Lord then creates a destructive energy, and the Lord will soon deal with it.

Prayer: Please, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Dare Reach for the Sword

Scripture: In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit—which is the Word of God. Ephesians 6:16-17

Observation: One of the last recorded words of Paul is this metaphor ... the armor of God. He tells the church at Ephesus to be armed for battle, and then goes through a list of literal armor but associated with spiritual capabilities and preparations. For the basic everyday armor, truth is a belt, God's approval is a breastplate, and shoes are part of spreading the gospel. However, when it is time for battle, you take up certain battle gear. Faith is a shield, salvation from Jesus is a helmet, and one's sword is the word of God. It is the only offensive weapon, and it is also aligned to the Holy Spirit.

Application: Pastor Phil talked yesterday that we are not in a time of chaos, but in a time of conflict. That is becoming so very clear. Conflict is everywhere, permeating every topic, and is even affecting church leaders.

I want to go on the offensive. I want to confront, correct, and thus improve the situation. However, I am likely the wrong person for such a task. For one thing, for the offensive, the only proper weapon is God's word, inspired by the Holy Spirit. I am weak in the Spirit, and my first inclination is to fall into logical discussions. I am not the kind of person who often calmly leans into biblical learning as inspired by the Holy Spirit. This should make it clear enough that, if there is need for correction by way of confrontation, I am not the person to lead such a conversation.

And yet, it needs to be done. We have people in our church who are creating division because satan is stirring conflict. By faith, I already have my shield in hand, and the Lord knows it has already absorbed fiery arrows aimed at me. I have on my helmet of salvation, confident as I am in the salvation that comes from Christ, and leaning into that truth every day.

Should I reach for the sword? I must only do this in cooperation with the Spirit.

Prayer: Lord, here I am. I desire more of you Spirit within me so that I may better serve you. Thank you for your peace in my heart this day, even while the tempest of the world boils. I will fight for your truth, as your will decides. Amen.

Another in the Fire

About three times a week right now, I find myself saying, "I hate this world." I don't really hate everything ... I hate the situations we find ourselves in. I hate the inability to dine out easily, or visit certain places, or go to events, or wonder about procedures. I hate the fear and anger and distrust I see in and feel from others. I hate the lies and arguments swirling from all fronts around the issues.

However, today I am reminded ...

There is a cross that bears the burden ...

There is a grave that holds no body ...

There is another in the fire!!

Seeking True Peace

Scripture: For Christ himself is our way of peace. He has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one family, breaking down the wall of contempt that used to separate us. By his death he ended the angry resentment between us, caused by the Jewish laws that favored the Jews and excluded the Gentiles, for he died to annul that whole system of Jewish laws. Then he took the two groups that had been opposed to each other and made them parts of himself; thus he fused us together to become one new person, and at last there was peace. As parts of the same body, our anger against each other has disappeared, for both of us have been reconciled to God. And so the feud ended at last at the cross. And he has brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were very far away from him, and to us Jews who were near. Ephesians 2:14-17

Observation: Paul discusses peace within the church - those who have faith in Jesus - showing that Jesus even breaks down the Holy conflict between Jews and Gentiles. In his day, this was the greatest division, as the Jews declared their status and laws separated them from all other people. However, simply by faith in Jesus, that division is completely gone. Every believer is at peace, fused together, part of the same body. All people now know God whether they were before far or near to him. All anger had disappeared, and the feud ended.

This is directly in line with Psalm 110:1-4, where Jehovah says to Messiah that he is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek, the priest of peace, who was honored by Abraham as an extension of his faith. In other words, every "believer" acknowledges that Messiah is the ruler of the world, and in that honors him as we partake in his peace. It is also in line with Jesus' own words from the sermon on the mount, blessing the peacemakers, who are those with a true maturity in their faith.

Application: Oh, that this were all true! Within the body of Christ, we bicker and fight, we gossip and complain, and we create conflicts. We extend that outward to fight with others. And we fail to influence a world that is being torn apart by anger, hate, and division.

Faith in Jesus Christ delivers peace. However, even within the faithful we fail at that. Perhaps if we sought true peace within the church, we could influence peace in our society. Or at least we could declare that the division in society could be healed by a revival of faith.

Paul knew that faith should heal even the greatest division in society. Today, our faith fails to resolve even local political differences. Oh that we could find the peace of Jesus in our hearts.

Prayer: Lord, I ask for your forgiveness of our church, beginning with me. We, and I, have failed to uphold your promise of peace, by fighting with each other over both trivial and settled matters. We are not a light of peace to all the rest of society, and thus have lost our ability to help heal the divisions in our society. Please forgive us. Please forgive me. May your spirit of peace rest upon us again. Amen.

Salvation for Far-Off Foreign Nations

Scripture: See, my Servant shall prosper; he shall be highly exalted. Yet many shall be amazed when they see him—yes, even far-off foreign nations and their kings; they shall stand dumbfounded, speechless in his presence. For they shall see and understand what they had not been told before. They shall see my Servant beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know it was a person standing there. So shall he cleanse many nations. Isaiah 52:13-15

Observation: It is the famous chapter 53 where the Servant is seen to be beaten, tried, and executed though he be innocent, and the prophet declares this is for the redemption of all mankind ... he has taken the punishment for us. Yet it is the last three verses of chapter 52 that introduce this Servant.

Here, two descriptions contradict one another. The Servant is beaten, bloodied, and disfigured ... however he is also prosperous and highly exalted. In addition, two other outcomes of these descriptions exist, which both relate to kings and nations both foreign and far-off in the future. The Servant will cleanse these many nations, and their people will understand all of this even though they have never been told of it.

Christians stand in the power of this prophesy. Jesus - the promised Servant of God - was beaten and bloodied in a horrible way, and emerged from that victorious over death, lifted into the place of greatest honor. Today, we can believe in the salvation that comes from Jesus receiving this punishment for our sins and be cleansed by it ... it is a faith that we can feel even before we understand it.

Application: I have said before that I often wonder about God's plan of salvation for gentiles. In the bible, we do see Israel as the chosen people, but we clearly see Old Testament nations that believe in God, interact with the Lord, and are even cared for and blessed by Yahweh. Here we explicitly see that the salvation of Jesus was always planned for far-off, foreign nations. It was the plan that we would believe, dumbfounded and speechless by the love of Jesus, understanding our need for and hope in salvation, prepared to honor Messiah when we learn of it.

I am part of the far-off foreign nations. I live a long time in the future from this prophesy, in a land on the other side of the planet from Jerusalem. Jesus died to cleanse me. He took my punishment for sin so I may be blameless before God. Isaiah said so 2,500 years ago.

Prayer: Lord, may I never lose sight of the fact that Jesus died a terrible death for me. My only response can be to live for Jesus. I know I am not worthy of such great love and sacrifice, which makes your mercy all the greater. Thank you for your grace and love. Amen.

When the World Loses Interest in Me

Scripture: As for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in all the attractive things of the world was killed long ago, and the world’s interest in me is also long dead. Galatians 6:14

Observation: As Paul is concluding some final advice, he encourages the church to focus their lives on Jesus Christ, and to be interested in only that salvation, truth, good news, and hope. As for himself, this focus on Jesus means that he no longer cares about the things of the world. However, he adds another clause to this statement. Because of Paul's focus on Jesus, the world no longer cares about him, either. Paul is no longer part of the world's ecosystem, economy, structure ... in either direction.

Application: Last night, I was on a plane returning from vacation. I had an isle seat, and a guy came up and said he had the window seat. I said "great!", jumped up and moved (because I knew someone would come for the seat), and quickly let him in. He immediately got on his phone texting, and his font was very, very large on his phone. To whomever he was texting, he said ... "I'm sitting next to some a*****e" (technically we weren't next to each other ... there was an empty seat between us). He then described me as "a jerk in bare feet with gross toes".

I'm literally just sitting there, and have said one friendly word to this guy. Maybe I shouldn't have been reading his texts but I don't have great eyesight and the text was so big I couldn't miss it. And I was barefoot having slipped off my sandals just then. However, I did have one other distinguishing item. As required I was wearing a mask, and it says "FAITH over FEAR".

As Paul taught, as a Christian I should want nothing to do with the "attractive things of the world". However, also as a Christian, the world will want nothing to do with me. When I display my faith, I should expect the world - and those who live in and honor the world - to react to me with ... at least ambivalence, if not contempt.

I'm okay with that. I have had that contempt of the world hurt me in the past. However, I believe this is a way I am growing in my faith ... that I now just expect it. I'm really okay with a guy calling me names and thinking my feet are ugly (15 years of competitive soccer can do that to your feet). I expect the world not to care about me any more, and for people 'of the world' to treat me poorly. Ideally I can scale back my ambition so that I care less and less and less about the attractive things of the world.

Prayer: Lord, you are so wise that you know I can and will find contentment and joy in nothing more than whatever you provide. I have no need for that which you don't provide. I look to you for all I need, and all I want, in this world. Thank you for caring for my family and I. And I do hope my row-mate last night felt better about himself, and perhaps had some time to contemplate in his heart the concept of faith. Amen.

Beyond Unsaved is Cursed

Scripture: Let God’s curses fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other way to be saved than the one we told you about; yes, if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him be forever cursed. Galatians 1:8

Observation: As Paul begins to lecture the church in Galatia about an alternative gospel they are accepting, he curses those teaching it. There is a true gospel, which is that of salvation by faith in Jesus as the son of God and Messiah. Anyone, even an angel, who announces a different path to salvation is not just sinning, but is cursed.

On the continuum of enemies against the Lord, those who deceive others about the path to salvation are therefore worse than those who don't believe in salvation. Non-belief is one thing, and rejection of belief is another matter, but false belief - and the teaching of that false belief - is something to not only cause one to stumble but rather is a cause of God's curse to fall on someone.

Interestingly, Isaiah fully outlines what God's curses look like. They involve death, destruction, the burning of towns and resources, and eventual destruction of people and civilizations.

Application: The longer we continue into this year, the more our daily lives look like that of a cursed society. Death, fires, internal wars, hatred, fear. And in the midst, so many people pronouncing false doctrines about the meaning of life, the purpose of mankind, and what a godless "salvation" looks like.

Many in our society are beyond unsaved, because they are beyond unbelieving. They are cursed, because they teach another way to be saved. It would almost be liberating to know that this is a curse upon our society. It would mean that God is taking corrective action.

Prayer: Lord, your people, including myself, know there is only one way, one truth, one baptism, one hope, one salvation, one eternity. This is true because there is only one God, and one savior. I will tell others only of you, and let your curse fall on anyone who teaches a different way. Amen.

Rejecting a Simple Message

Scripture: "Who does Isaiah think he is," the people say, "to speak to us like this! Are we little children, barely old enough to talk? He tells us everything over and over again, a line at a time and in such simple words!" But they won’t listen; the only language they can understand is punishment! So God will punish them by sending against them foreigners who speak strange gibberish! Only then will they listen to him! Isaiah 28:9-11

Observation: Isaiah repeats the protests of Israel against his prophesy. They challenge his authority, but also are critical of the language he uses. The implication is that it's simplicity infers it cannot be prophesy from God, for the God would speak more intelligently. The Lord's answer to this is that they are so foolish, that even when spoken to in simple language they don't understand. They won't listen to anything! Therefore, all they can learn from is punishment, and soon the commands they receive will be from foreigners who speak a language they don't know ... these Israel will listen to.

Application: Our message today is SO simple. Out of his love, the Lord provided Jesus Christ as the savior of all mankind, and anyone who believes and places their faith in Jesus will have eternal life. The rejection of this simple message comes in the form of logical challenges. Who is this Lord? Can you prove he created the universe? Why would sacrifice be required? Why does God have rules that alienate some people? What really are sins? If anything about an all-powerful God is true, why wouldn't he just reveal himself?

And the point is ... these are all just protests identical to Israel's protests. They challenge the authority of correction, and reject simply lessons. Yet just like a child, they could never understand the more complex conversations if they cannot understand the simple teachings.

Our society has complex problems, and thinks that unless God comes along with complex solutions then Christianity is wrong and God doesn't even exist. I truly fear for the coming punishments, for I believe that we are only experiencing the tip of the spear now.

Prayer: Lord, may thy kingdom come, and thy will be done. Please, come Lord Jesus, and claim your bride. We are anxious and weary. And yet, we will serve you faithfully, delivering your simple message. Amen.

Upon Hearing a True Prophet

Scripture: Look! They are preparing a great banquet! They load the tables with food; they pull up their chairs to eat. . . . Quick, quick, grab your shields and prepare for battle! You are being attacked! Isaiah 21:5

Observation: Verse 1 of chapter 21 says this is a prophesy about Babylon, and goes on about how it will be attacked and fall at the hands of the Medes. Verse 5 explicitly calls out that this will happen during a feast ... while the people are having a great banquet, they will be attacked by surprise and fall.

We know from the book of Daniel, and from historical fact, that this is exactly what happened. During a feast - the exact feast in fact where the king has used the sacred items from the temple and the hand of God writes on the wall that the king will die that very night - the Medes and Persians sneak into the city and overthrow Babylon in a single night.

In the course of nine verses, Isaiah recounts the exact event that will occur ~30-50 years in the future, including details that are impossible to know, involving the fall of a nation that has not in fact even risen yet, at the hands of a people who are not at war with them, and the resulting return of exiles who ... aren't even in exile.

Application: The Lord's words to his prophets are amazing in their reliability. I have learned that I should not fight against them, and yet in some cases I do not fully trust them.

Here is the discerning issue ... are the words spoken by others around me truly prophesy, or are they human extrapolations of actions based on prophesy, or are they simply personal hopes?

What I do know is that I am not a person given such prophesy, and thus my own thoughts are much more likely in the category of personal hopes. I can serve for an outcome. May I be shown the goals.

Prayer: My Lord and my God, you are great in your knowledge, wisdom, and authority. What will come to pass you know, and what you speak comes to pass. Help me to cooperate with others in your work, and please guide us all to understand the true purpose and objective of your will, today and in al the days to come. Amen.

Motivation for Holy Rebellion

Scripture: They were envious of Moses, yes, and Aaron too, the man anointed by God as his priest. Because of this, the earth opened and swallowed Dathan, Abiram, and his friends. Psalm 106:16-17

Observation: The psalmist is recounting the history of Israel in the wilderness, and reminds everyone of this scene. Some elders lead a rebellion against Moses and "his" rules, declaring a different path and worship practice. Yahweh immediately kills them - swallows them up in the earth - and even contemplates completely starting over with Moses as a new founder of the nation.

These elders rebelled against God because they were envious of Moses. They desired leadership, authority, honor, and comfort. As a result, they declared their own path and sought those who would follow their lead. Yes, since Moses was obeying God, this meant their efforts were opposed to God, but their first motivation was envy and jealousy of a man. They wanted what Moses had ... position.

Application: The concept of "position" will be the major conversation in the U.S. over the next 60 days. It is all about who will have what positions of authority in our government. It is SO critical to understand that the "who" isn't important. When it comes to authority to lead a nation, we should only care about one thing, and that is determining God's will for the nation, and who may follow it most obediently.

Of course, our major issue is that perhaps no one follows God's will when it comes to political leadership of the modern world, and that is a problem without an easy solution. For us, the conversation should be ... will we make our decisions based on prayer and guidance from the Lord, or based on anger, jealousy, and frustration over current circumstances?

Dathan, Abiram, and the elders took action based on these elements. They were frustrated over life in the wilderness, grew jealous of Moses being in charge, and took action that was clearly opposed to the Lord. Today, between pandemic lockdown, racial tensions, and secondary issues like economic uncertainty that results from those ... we have plenty of reasons to be frustrated over our current circumstances. Maybe the current officials are part of God's plan to address this, and maybe their challengers are instead. No matter, it is important for us to seek God's plan and God's will, and not act only out of our frustration.

I will not myself seek position or authority. I have no voice in any matter, outside of a voice the Lord may grant me to serve him and others. I hope we are prepared to follow the Lord through this matter, and not instead pursue some terrible rebellion.

Prayer: Lord, may thy will be done in the coming days. Please guide this land, and all nations, in ways that follow you plan. Amen.

Two Responses to Sorrow

Scripture: For God sometimes uses sorrow in our lives to help us turn away from sin and seek eternal life. We should never regret his sending it. But the sorrow of the man who is not a Christian is not the sorrow of true repentance and does not prevent eternal death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

Observation: As Paul discusses his relationship with the church at Corinth - specifically how he scolded them in his prior letter and they responded by first being sorrowful but then taking proper action - he gives this clear and direct lesson about how God uses sorrow. God uses sorrow, hardship, and correction to clarify our understanding of sin in our lives, and thus repent. Thus sorrow has a good outcome.

However, there is a flipside to this that applies to non-believers. Since non-believers do not know the truth, and thus have no understanding of repentance and the proper way to behave, sorrow cannot correct them. Non-believers can only suffer in their sorrow, and turn cynical toward the world, nature, others, and God himself.

Application: As we all suffer through hardships, this is the difference between believers and non-believers. I see believers looking for how the outcomes of this situation will advance their personal understanding of God, or give opportunities for the kingdom to advance, or correct large swaths of society. I see non-believers ... fighting about politics, taking sides over policies and practices, and generally fearful of everyday life. They have no idea that anything related to hardships and sorrows may be leading toward opportunities for a changed life, so instead it is all just challenges to overcome.

So what does it say when I see believers who ... fight about politics, take sides over policies and practices, and live fearfully? I must not judge too quickly. Overcoming sorrow is a process, not a knee-jerk reaction. The Corinthians were first sorrowful about the scolding they received from Paul, then considered the matter and corrected it. Some believers are still in the 'sorrow' state.

When I have been corrected, it took me a long time to get through my sorrow ... months. It can be hard. But the Lord is faithful. He has been faithful to me, helping me find new kingdom purpose while caring for me and my family. The Lord is being faithful to his Church and believers, creating new platforms and messages from many places.

And the Lord loves everyone and will be faithful to anyone else who turns to him. As believers, let us focus on seeking God's will during sorrow, and model that for those who are only seeking survival.

Prayer: Lord, again today I pray for our country, our world, our communities. I pray for those far from you to discover your love in their lives, even in the midst of hardship. It is more difficult when they have no hope or context, but the first step is simply to seek an understanding of your love and the love of Jesus. May this happen more and more, and more and more hearts, daily. Amen.

The Worst Sort of Anarchy

Scripture: And the worst sort of anarchy will prevail—everyone stepping on someone else, neighbors fighting neighbors, youths revolting against authority, criminals sneering at honorable men. Isaiah 3:5

Observation: What does the world look like today ...

-- Proclaimed anarchists literally fighting police

-- Groups burning down government property

-- Violent protests killing shop owners and bystanders

-- Chanting mobs in front of officials' personal homes

-- Public declarations by 'leaders' against other races

-- Rude name calling for anyone opposed to a certain policy

-- Open arguing over civil issues and decisions

Isaiah is clear about why this is happening. It is because of a total lack of focus on, belief in, and obedience to, the Lord, Yahweh, God almighty, creator of heaven and earth. This is not an earthly battle - though it takes the form of earthly issues like poverty, violence, death, war, plague, and government chaos - but this is a spiritual battle. Most have turned so far from God that they cannot even understand that concept.

Application: Once again today, we are shown that our current world is in a tailspin due to a lack of faith. How can we recover? It may be instructive to understand how Judah eventually recovered ... it was decimated and completely removed from the earth for an entire generation, before a minuscule remnant was allowed to try again.

I wonder how much worse we are right now compared to the final century of Judah.

Prayer: Lord, I want to lean into this and pray again for how we can help our nation, our people, and our community recover. I also want to lean into your promise in verse 10, which says, "But all is well for the godly man. Tell him, 'What a reward you are going to get!'" Please, dear Lord, show me how to be that godly man in these terrible times. I seek your love and your reward, but I also desire to see others receive that reward, and even more so as those who are lost return to you in the name of Jesus. Amen.

What a Sinful Nation

Scripture: Oh, what a sinful nation they are! They walk bent-backed beneath their load of guilt. Their fathers before them were evil too. Born to be bad, they have turned their backs upon the Lord and have despised the Holy One of Israel. They have cut themselves off from his help. Isaiah 1:4

Observation: Isaiah opens his prophesy against the sinfulness of Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem with this observation ... they themselves even know their evil and their guilt, and yet do it anyway. The guilt they bear over their sins against the Lord are themselves a heavy burden, which is upon them at all times. They walk around under that burden with full knowledge, and yet do nothing to relieve it because it has become part of their culture. Their society is evil ... they were born into that evilness, as their ancestors passed the evil practices down to them. In this way, they have fully cut themselves off from God.

Application: That pretty much summarizes life in the northwestern US today. We are a people burdened by anger, hatred, unrest, and lawlessness. Daily casual conversations turn to worry about riots, crazy politics, and true and total hate between people groups. As a result, when placed under the heavy burden of a pandemic, and hearing of economic issues and massive storms, we cower in further fear ... yet never once as a people do we turn to the Lord for help.

The church must NOT be like this, but rather we must be the prophet calling out this condition. I must be a person who says the next things, asking why the people refuse to acknowledge the situation, why they chase after false propositions in life like political parties, governed equity, generational wealth, and even cotton masks?! These are not things that can help! These are not concepts in which to place hope.

My family was called into this mission field, in what is actually one of the least faithful places on earth. We - the church - must express the truth, for this is the charge of the Lord. The Lord promises that, no matter how deep our stain is as a people, he can wash it out, and has provided the means through Jesus. May we make Jesus known today.

Prayer: Lord, this day I pray for my nation, for my region, for my city, and for my community. It would be easier to leave here. It would be easier to withdraw and simply ignore the issues, the anger, and the hurt that surround us. But Lord, the source of all those sorrows is an ignorance of Jesus and a lack of hope found in your love. May that hope be rediscovered, despite how many generations it has been since the knowledge left this place. Elected official of social leaders stand opposed in hate, and I pray that somehow they find a common ground in the love of Jesus. It looks impossible from here, but all things are possible by you, oh Lord. Please reach the people with your message, and restore the land by that same grace. Amen.

A Heart Prepared to Seek

Scripture: For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, "May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary." And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people. 2 Chronicles 18-20

Observation: Hezekiah has taken an amazing journey ... repaired and re-sanctified the temple, formally offered sacrifice to the Lord on behalf of all Israel, and now re-instituted the Passover. This is a time after Assyria has sent the northern kingdom into exile, and yet he invites the remnant from them as well, and some (not all) of them come. However, those people have been so long removed from the Lord, that they are considered unsanctified; they have not participated in previous sin offerings that would bring them into right relationship with the Lord, and may be so many generations removed from any sort of relationship with Yahweh that perhaps have no idea what to do at all.

Hezekiah does NOT prevent them from coming to the Lord. Instead, he prays a simple prayer for them, asking the Lord to simply provide 'atonement' - forgiving mercy - for everyone who comes forward with a right and prepared heart, regardless of any lack of compliance with rules, laws, precepts, or practices. And God accepts this and "healed the people."

Application: We say all the time that coming to Jesus doesn't require a sinless life or compliance with rules, but just a heart ready to accept Jesus as Lord and savior. Here, God proves that fact. Even in the old testament and inside the temple itself, while participating in a centuries-old ceremony that God himself defined and instructed everyone about procedures and practices, God doesn't require ritual compliance! God doesn't reject those who don't know the right words, or when to kneel and when to stand, or how to worship or sacrifice. He accepts and heals everyone with a "heart to seek".

Every Christian needs to understand this, because many feel that those exploring faith need some epiphany before being qualified to "join" a church. That is utter ... bunk. As soon as they seek, they are qualified to be healed, if only we would come alongside them and pray for them. We can then later model the teachings of Jesus. All anyone needs to engage with the Lord is a heart to seek, and that fact has always been true.

Prayer: Lord, this morning I pray for everyone who watches online services during this troubling times and yet does not yet consider themselves a Christian. They are seeking help, comfort, strength, and truth. I pray the prayer of Hezekiah, that you provide atonement for all with a heart prepared to seek. Please give them your love this day and your healing, in their hearts, minds, and body, and give them your strength to then come seek you more and learn of Jesus. When they come, may I and your people not be a stumbling block, but a receiving family ready to pray alongside them all. Amen.

Three Ways to Bless the Lord

Scripture:

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits.

Psalm 103:2

Observation: The psalmist opens this psalm with a famous line - 'bless the Lord, oh my soul and all that is within me, bless his holy name' - and then states to remember the "benefits" received when we bless Yahweh. The next eight verses enumerate those benefits, and they are ... forgiveness of sin, healing of disease, redemption from personal destruction, holy love, tender mercies, pleasant food and drink, bodily strength, justice for the oppressed, divine knowledge, grace for our mistakes, and patience with our iniquities.

In all these ways, our blessing of the Lord - through our worshipful praise of him and his holy name - returns to us. This is his love toward us as his creation. When we acknowledge the Lord as our master, or protector, our redeemer, our salvation, our purpose ... then he cares for us.

Application: How can we - mere mortal humans - "bless the Lord"? The answer is certainly ... worship, prayer, and obedience.

Worship is our outward acknowledgment that the Lord is above us in the authority of our own lives. It is also the means by which we best express our thanks, love, and honor toward our creator.

Prayer is our conversation with the Lord, where we can express our thoughts. It is a time to talk, to ask, to honor, to thank. It is also a way of creating relationship, whereby we get time with God. And finally, but really foremost, it is also a time to meditate and thus listen to the Lord for his words back to us.

Obedience is our display of the outcomes of worship and prayer. It is where we have listened to God - both his words to us and his teachings in the bible - and responded to those words because we again agree his is the authority of our lives.

Do I do ... ANY of these well? Unfortunately, the answer is a resounding 'no' ... or maybe 'sometimes'. I enjoy worship, and I should do that more even in private times of day (the real reason youtube is great ... a lot of worship songs to sing with!). I don't pray enough, and should do so more often, and about everything. Certainly obedience is where we all fall down and always have, which is even acknowledged by the psalmist today as he indicates the Lord removes our transgressions as far from us as the east is from the west.

I desire to bless the Lord, oh my soul. How to do so is right here for me to follow.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for your benefits. I do not deserve them, first because I do not bless you enough, and second because I could never bless you perfectly as you deserve. This means your first benefit is your love and mercy, as you are willing to love me in my imperfection. I will never be perfect. Please help me in my striving to be better. Amen.

The Story of a Runaway

I threw the best of me away ...

Too far gone, and too ashamed ...

But love refused to let my story end that way!

Proper Discernment about Daily Work

Scripture:

It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy,

And afterward to reconsider his vows.

Proverbs 20:25

Observation: Within this straightforward section of proverbs is his teach about rashness. This warning is about both behaving rashly, but also about then reconsidering that questionable decision.

The "snare" or trap is for someone to quickly decide to commit to something, and especially to commit to it as "holy". This would mean to rapidly determine that a new ... teaching of the word, or person in the church, or proposal for action ... is right and holy and inspired by God. As we are taught in other parts of scripture, we are instead to closely examine such matters, to pray for discernment, to weigh such items against other known truths or accepted wisdom, and seek understanding of consistency from our wise and unchanging God.

The second warning however is about revisiting a rash decision. If one commits to the new idea, it is necessary to be careful about decommitting from that. If you pledge to do something, forgoing that pledge has its own issues. In some cases, it may be that renouncing your pledge may break trust with others, and thus create strife between believers. Or it could be that doing so reinforces a lack of faith that God can use even a bad decision for a good outcome. In any case, even though rashly committing to something without due consideration and discernment is bad, reversing such a commitment is also problematic.

Application: I have seen this proverb ignored countless times in my church - rash decisions and problems caused by both the decisions and then undoing them is almost our church's modus operandi - and there are almost always some really bad outcomes. However, it is best if I apply this to myself and not others.

There have been times that I have been rash to make decisions and judgments about issues. In my case, they may not be "holy" decisions, but they are decisions that affect my daily walk with the Lord in the end, as they impact my behavior or work. Thus, the real lesson here is not about fearing to make decisions, but finding a Christ-centered method for making decisions in all aspects of life. This begins with prayer.

I do not pray about my daily activities enough. I may pray generally for categories of my life ... my family, my job, my friends, my wife ... but I don't pray specifically about decisions. Should I volunteer to run a planning meeting? Which of the conflicting meetings with the corporate domain team or the European sales team should I attend? Is now the right time to launch a work effort for advanced analytics?

These are decisions I make. They aren't "holy" per se, but God could help me make the right decisions. And by "right decisions" ... he could lead me into decisions where people who need Jesus are, and thus I could serve them better, reflect Christ's love, and enable his kingdom even here at work.

In the kingdom of God, my time of service is holy, and I decide where I'll spend my time every day. I should surrender those decisions to the Lord and thus avoid the snare of misaligning my time in relation to God's work for me on earth.

Prayer: Lord, may I look to you more often for my daily thoughts, decisions, priorities, and actions. My life is yours, and that means my time is yours. May I be reminded of that, and thus seek your guidance in where my time is spent. Amen.

Destruction Upon Rebelling

Scripture: And now you think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord, which is in the hand of the sons of David; and you are a great multitude, and with you are the gold calves which Jeroboam made for you as gods. Have you not cast out the priests of the Lord, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and made for yourselves priests, like the peoples of other lands, so that whoever comes to consecrate himself with a young bull and seven rams may be a priest of things that are not gods. 2 Chronicles 13:8-9

Observation: The divided kingdom has been at war, but mostly they have been skirmishing about boarder cities. This is the decisive battle between them, with 400,000 men with Judah, and 800,000 men with Israel. Abijah of Judah denounces the state of Israel ... they have abandon the Lord, created golden idols, cast out all priests and teachers, and gone down a path just like any other polytheist nation. Israel no longer fears Yahweh.

And despite better tactics and far superior numbers, Israel is going to lose badly, with true civil-war-type numbers dead (500,000), and Jeroboam mortally wounded. This won't correct the path of Israel - they are now permanently on this evil path never to recover - but it does define the time and place the Lord clearly marked Israel as a nation fighting against him.

Application: There are times I watch the news, and I don't see any way "back" for our country. We are just as divided as Judah and Israel, just not geographically. The sides are dug in and even radicalized. We stand and shout accusations at each other, but we yell on social media instead of yelling from a mountaintop.

This isn't about who is right or wrong in any conflict. It is about following the Lord. If we truly did that, all other issues would fall into a logical order. Instead, we build our golden idols, rely on our craft and plots and strength, and exercise our rights to our own beliefs.

This time looks very much like the decisive moment when the God is taking action. This is time of civil unrest, global pandemic, economic destruction, and divisive elections. The best we can do - all we can do - is follow the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, Yahweh, who sees us and cares for us and leads us and protects us, as a nation we have wandered far away from you. Our society and our lives fail to reflect your love, your laws, and your greatness. Please forgive us. We are in a dark time, and it is certainly of our own making, but please do not forsake us, and please do not raise your mighty hand against us. We seek your mercy. Help us to return to you, as a people and as a nation, for it is only by your will that we can do so. Amen.

Gifting that Edifies the Church

Scripture: Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. 1 Corinthians 14:12

Observation: In the discussion of various spiritual gifts, but primarily the gift of tongues, Paul distinguishes between gifts that edify and serve the church, and those that do not. Tongues falls into the latter category ... it is a prayer language for honoring God, but it doesn't serve the church well since it is meaningless when others hear it. Paul instead talks about the gift of prophesy as a gift that does serve the church. When speaking to the church - and doing so with the spiritual gift to understand and proclaim a truth from God - a person helps the church to know what they should do. In summary, Paul states it is for such gifts that serve the church that members should seek growth and gifting.

While tongues comes up often, Paul is often promoting and explaining other gifts. He has already listed certain gifts of being of the most importance, including apostleship, teaching, and evangelism. There are others in the early church who also promote gifts specifically designed to strengthen the church, for example one of the very first items James addresses is desiring the gift of wisdom.

Application: I have taken several 'tests' to determine where my gifting may be. There are times the Holy Spirit has revealed words of knowledge to me, or helped me discern a truth, but clearly my top spiritual gift is ... administration. I kinda hate that. Administration doesn't feel very holy. However, that attitude is certainly my pride interfering with the use of that gift in the church.

As a result of my gifting, our church has been successful in two major annual undertakings. I created and usually lead our hosting efforts at our Christmas lights show, witnessed by over 60,000 people, with an outcome being many people who have come to faith by first becoming curious about church at the lights. For eight years, I have coordinated our volunteers that support the city's July 4th parade, with the result being that our church has unusual favor with our city and is often a place city officials turn to for assistance. When our church readied to reopen to live attendance after lockdown, I was one of the non-staff people brought in to coordinate it.

I may wish I could prophesy, but that isn't my role. My role in our church is to organize and plan. I am good at it because the Holy Spirit makes me good at it. Therefore, when I do it, I am interacting with God. How can I hate that?

Prayer: Lord, I thank you this day for the power and blessing of your Holy Spirit. You have gifted me for your service, and there is no greater honor I could ever ask than to be able to serve you well. I thank you for this, and look forward to how you will use me this day and every day to come. Amen.

Persecution in Seeking the Lord

Scripture:

I opened for my beloved,
But my beloved had turned away and was gone.
My heart leaped up when he spoke.
I sought him, but I could not find him;
I called him, but he gave me no answer.
The watchmen who went about the city found me.
They struck me, they wounded me;
The keepers of the walls

Took my veil away from me.
Song of Songs 5:6-7

Observation: In this section of this poem, the Shulamite (the female) is seeking the Beloved (the male). She thought she heard his call - that he had knocked at the door and called out to her to come to him - but when she went to the door he wasn't there, and so she went out looking for him. While out, she is found by the watchmen who keep order in the streets at night, and is punished for being out. Guards charged with keeping strangers out of the city remove her veil, the discrete covering of her face, and watchmen charged with keeping order in the streets beat her.

She is a woman who has heard her lord call to her and has gone out to find him. However, those charged with keeping order instead harass, impede, harm, and persecute her.

The poem is of course a metaphor for the relationship between the Lord and his faithful people. The people are called to come to the Lord, but when the faithful go out to find the Lord - whether he be near or far - they are met by those who have been charged by 'the world' to keep 'order'. Despite it being obvious there is no threat (one young and modest women alone), they respond with force, cruelty, and violence in order to prevent her mission. It doesn't stop the believers ... it is nothing more than a momentary setback and never considered again.

Application: Yesterday on social media, my pastor commented about the "persecuted church" ... that it used to be something that happened in other countries, but is coming to the U.S. We can then learn from those in China, India, Iraq - and in the bible in Rome and Ephesus - about how to seek and serve the Lord when society would persecute us for our faith, even to the point of violence.

I am reminded today that this element within our country WILL get worse. I still see the era coming where Christians are marginalized by the culture, our values are declared contradictory to law, and we are excluded from protections. In issues of cultural conflict, violence is rising while calls for legal action also rises, but I believe the Church will be considered outside of such protections, and a resulting target for such violence.

This will be my faith in my old age ... a harmless old man, assaulted (maybe even physically) for simply following Jesus Christ. I believe this already began toward me and my family. My encouragement is that this will be an event to be shrugged off and forgotten, as I continue into the presence of my Lord. My Lord is in his garden, carrying for flocks and flowers. He will meet me and embrace me, nurture me and comfort me, and protect me.

A little persecution is only a sign that I am, in fact, chasing after Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, I have heard your knock and your call, and I will always come after you. I pray for your protection in these days, and in the days to come. However, I also know the world stands opposed to you. May I be so marked as one of your believers that the world opposes me, too. Amen.

Providing Proper Covering

Scripture: Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. 1 Corinthians 11:4-5

Observation: Paul establishes different rules for men and women in the church, declaring men as the head over women. As the husband of a female pastor, this is a lesson I need to take seriously.

It is very clear that Paul is addressing issues within the church of Corinth. He began as far back as chapter 5 addressing issues very specific to this one church. There was ... a case of an incestual relationship, lawsuits between believers, specific sexual immorality, questions of marriage and divorce, eating of food sacrificed to idols (a major issue in Corinth), complaints about Paul himself made by church members, proper feasts, personal consciousness around diets, men and women covering their heads in worship and prayer, proper eating of the Lord's supper, questions of spiritual gifts, and overall division within the church. Note the issue around men and women is in the middle of all this. There is little doubt that this instruction is specific to an ethical question within the church of Corinth.

It is also likely, given how many of the issues raised involve matters of sexual relationship and the fact this is mostly about coving one's head, that this is about provocative dress. At the time, a woman who fully exposed her head and face, wore some makeup, did her hair nicely ... would have clearly been looking to attract a man. While this happens, Paul is being clear that this is not an activity one does during prayer and worship.

There is a problem with this in the church of Corinth - some women are attending prayer meetings dressed in a manner to find a man, not worship the Lord - and Paul is saying not to do this. This passage has nothing to do with a hierarchy defined within the Church of Jesus Christ ... we know from Paul's history of honoring churches run by women that this would be ridiculous.

Application: I have watched people who use passages like this one to condemn my wife's position in the church. I am often amazed when such condemnation comes from other women. However, I want to also understand my place, as a man married to a church leader.

I am covering for my wife. This means, I am to protect her ... physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I have learned over time that it is these last two - emotionally and spiritually - that are most important.

During this time, I should be doing more to take care of my wife emotionally. She struggles as much as I do but shows it differently. I can "cover" her by praying over her daily, continually, over and over. That is the "general" instruction and context of this specific guidance from Paul.

Prayer: Lord, today I pray for my wife. She is a blessing to me, and also to so many around her. Please have your hand upon her mind, her spirit, and her health this day. Help her to be confident in you, and sound in her mind, as we continue through this time. As she needs, please guide and instruct me in how I can support her as well. Amen.

Permanent or Temporary Loss of Blessing

Scripture:

For forty years I was grieved with that generation,
And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts,
And they do not know My ways.’

Psalm 95:10

Observation: The psalmist encourages obedience and joyful worship to the Lord, and then gives the Lord's words in this matter ... a reminder to not harden our hearts and turn away from the Lord's teaching and precepts. The generation in the wilderness did that - with full knowledge of God and recent displays of his amazing love, they celebrated by committing many sins - and as a result God caused that entire generation to wander for 40 years and die in the wilderness. God judged that that generation, who had first-hand knowledge of the love and deliverance of Yahweh, still did not know and understand God's ways.

Application: Today, I sit in a nation that quite literally has everything. We have an abundance of food, amazing natural beauty, vast knowledge and skills, easy access to merriment, and great wealth to procure what we want. And we actively reject the Lord. In fact, we actively give ourselves credit for all these things, ignoring the provision - and thus the ways of God's love - in our lives.

Isn't that part of the lesson with the golden calf? When the Jews left Egypt, God promised and give them the plunder of Egypt, and by divine action had Egypt hand over to these slaves vast amounts of gold and other riches. Literally days later, the Jews melted down that gift to actively sin. Moses didn't have them break apart of the golden calf and store the gold for a better use, but rather destroyed it, forcing the people to eat it, and thus turning it to total waste. It was thus a blessing totally removed from the people.

Today, God is removing our nation's health. He is removing our access to freedom. He is removing our merriment. He is removing our access to many foods and drinks. He is removing our entertainment.

How many of these will be permanent ... a permanent loss of a past blessing? The answer is likely that some are, in fact, a permanent loss of a blessing our nation had enjoyed. How many of these are temporary and exist only so we can learn the lesson of honoring the Lord and return to his laws and precepts? The answer likely depends on our response.

Prayer: Lord, I know your hand is upon our nation, and today that is a hand of judgment. Yet I know it is also a hand of mercy, and both of these are born of your love. May your people, those who believe in you and in Jesus Christ, have strength to call attention to our nation's sins and pride. I pray that you relent and bring an end to this plague. However, thy will be done. Amen.

Pursuits that Never Satisfy

Scripture:

He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver;
Nor he who loves abundance, with increase.
This also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 5:10

Observation: The wise observation of the teacher is this ... those that want something are never satisfied with how much of that thing they have. Whether the desired item is good food, money, relaxation, pleasure, comfort, power ... no matter how much they have, they never declare 'enough'. They are never satisfied. As a result, acquiring their heart's desire actually does them no good at all.

Application: Is there something I desire, but am never satisfied when I receive it? More relevantly perhaps, is there something I am wasting my time in pursuit of - with the outcome being that I will never ever improve my life in this pursuit - when I could be spending more time with the Lord?

For me, the answer likely isn't a thing, but rather the avoidance of work. I can be lazy. When I am lazy, doing nothing for extended periods, I first feel worthless, then ashamed. I never feel good, and yet I regularly look to avoid active productivity.

I don't always have to be productive, but I could spend my downtime in more prayer and meditation on God's word.

Prayer: Lord, I do seek you this afternoon. May I find you in my downtime, and may I turn to you when I decide I don't want to turn my mind to work. Amen.

Nothing is Better than This

Scripture: I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God. Ecclesiastes 3:12-13

Observation: Already by the start of chapter 3, the teacher - Solomon - has described every thing as pointless. This has even extended to all attempts to find pleasure, all work to find value, and all results to find legacy. Yet he has said something to this effect twice now ... the best things to do is to rejoice, do good, and enjoy the gifts of God in our lives. There is a certain poetic style to this book, so many of the words need to be understood in a manner of art, therefore this declaration of the 'best' things one can do in life align to the clear priorities of Yahweh.

-- Rejoice = Love and worship the Lord.

-- Do good = Love others.

-- Enjoy the good = Accept and acknowledge God's love and his good gifts toward you.

The list of things that are pointless is long, and getting longer. Yet even in the depth of this philosophical essay about the meaninglessness of life, the teacher returns to the greatest of all the commandments and pronounces them as the best. Nothing is better than these three life purposes. And the results are always from God himself.

Application: Solomon, a man running one of the great kingdoms at the very pinnacle of its influence, who himself is recognized internationally as the wisest of all leaders, and who is burdened with the task of creating the grandest single building project in history ... simplifies life's purpose down to three things. Love God, love others, and acknowledge and enjoy God's love. How am I doing at following this great ancient wisdom?

I love the Lord, however I could certainly dedicated more time every day to worshipping and honoring him, to prayer and thanksgiving.

I try to love others ... but wow ... that can be easy with some, but hard with many others, especially those who are not themselves loving the Lord.

I acknowledge that all I have is a gift from God, but sometimes I also think too highly of myself in achieving things in life.

In all the greatest wisdom ever bestowed on one man in history, Solomon defined a simple purpose for our lives ... and while I know it I stumble in pursuing it. I spend time chasing the wind, grasping at smoke, doing work with no permanence, seeking my own pleasures. So meaningless.

Prayer: Lord, you love me so much that you have given me a simply truth about how to have an amazing life. I go and complicate it and mess it up. Please forgive my vanity. I love you, oh Lord, with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. May I enjoy your purposes. Amen.

Thinking on God's Old Stuff

Scripture: Now the bronze altar that Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, had made, he put before the tabernacle of the Lord; Solomon and the assembly sought Him there. 2 Chronicles 1:5

Observation: Upon becoming king, Solomon honors the Lord by going to Gibeon, to the place where the original tabernacle is set up, and sacrificing a thousand animals on the original bronze alter. It is the night after this act that God appears to Solomon and grants him great wisdom.

At this time, the tabernacle and bronze alter are around 400-500 years old. The ark is already in Jerusalem, but these items are in this other city, in fact a city that is associated with a foreign people who tricked Joshua into signing a peace treaty with them and thus became servant laborers for the Jews.

This may be the final appearance of the alter in the bible. Soon, Solomon will build the temple, constructing a new massive alter. Even if this alter still exists, it will not reside in the place where the Lord dwells anymore. This is certainly the last major sacrificial event involving this alter. Afterward, it is ... resigned to history as an artifact that no one knows the outcome of, and may or may not even still exist.

Application: The mysteries of the nature of God are many, but so are the mysteries of his basic and logical activities. The Lord can protect a leather tent and a bronze utilitarian object for centuries, and then ... who knows. If God wishes, they could still exist. If God wished to make a point about his new temple, they could have simply become common objects or even taken apart for their resources in Solomon's lifetime. Or God could have had them carried off and destroyed by a foreign power as a symbolic point about his anger against the divided kingdoms and their behaviors.

I like to think these elements - the tent of meeting, the tabernacle, the alter, the ark - still exist and will be discovered someday. I think it is more likely that the Lord allowed their destruction because they are simply earthly objects, and like the temple once he could no longer reside with the people due to their sin and rejection of his teaching, they no longer serve any divine purpose. It is still fun to think about their possible discovery, be it in a small church in Ethiopia, a cave in Iraq, a hidden treasury in Jerusalem, or even a tunnel under New York.

God gave me curiosity and a love of history, and sometimes I think some of his mysteries exist just to give us ways of meditating about him, his nature, and his ways.

Prayer: Lord, I do think on the history of you and the objects made to honor you, and I wonder about them. May my wonder lead to meaningful insights and understanding of you. May I learn more about your nature by the revelation of you by your spirit, when I consider your ways. Amen.

Clarifying Who is Qualified

Scripture: Now David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.” So David made abundant preparations before his death. 1 Chronicles 22:5

Observation: David makes "abundant preparations" for building the temple, which includes gathering labor, supplies, and plans. However, he is not to build the temple, as the Lord himself has declared that Solomon - a king who will be blessed by peace - is the one who will build it. And these two sentences ... are in contradiction with each other.

The Lord himself has declared that Solomon is the king who will be worthy and wise enough to build the house of the Lord. Yet David then describes Solomon as "young and inexperienced" and thus takes on all the responsibilities of either procuring or creating ... gold, silver, bronze, stone, iron, wood, slave labor, Levitical structure, and plans. He does this because Solomon is inexperienced.

This would be a good time to note that ... David has never built a temple ... he in fact never (I believe) established a new a city. David is old, but he has no more experience than Solomon in the area of gathering raw goods or overseeing construction. It is wonderful that David wishes to honor God and wants to do what he can, but his actions weren't really necessary. Solomon would also have God on his side, and he therefore could figure this project out as well.

Application: I would be well-served, every time I think that I am the most qualified, most knowledgeable, most experienced person who can therefore best to task, to ask myself ... really? Have I really even done this before?

The person best qualified for a task is likely the one the Lord himself has decided should do a task, and thus will provide wisdom, knowledge, and guidance as necessary. That may be me. It may not be me.

Solomon was best qualified to build the temple because the Lord decided so. Maybe David was best qualified for gathering resources, but not because of a deficiency in Solomon. Likewise, maybe I'm the most qualified to do a task, not because of a deficiency in others, but only because the Lord has decided so.

Prayer: Lord, I ask you this morning for the humility I should have when deciding what to do this day and every day. May I do the tasks you have set forth for me, and make room for others to do the tasks you have set forth for them. I am not most qualified to do everything or to think everything, especially those things like addressing the social issues of our day. Only you are truly qualified to solve our problems, and you will give perfect your guidance as you wish. May I honor that. Amen.

Resurrection is the Deciding Factor

Scripture: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Observation: In greeting the church at Corinth, Paul discusses the wisdom - and foolishness - of the entire idea of Messiah. In this explanation, the conversation is this simple ... the idea that a man was crucified, dead, buried, and the resurrected is either a) an impossibility and thus belief in it is absolute foolishness, or b) an incredible miracle that is nothing short of definitive proof in God and his promised salvation. There is almost no middle ground.

Application: As Paul points out - and something I have discussed and even spoken on in the past - there is one core message of Christianity ... Christ crucified. Jesus was killed and resurrected. It is from that fact, and only from that fact, that belief in salvation through faith in Jesus can exist. It is only by that proof that centuries of prophets are proven worthy, thus the scriptures are true, thus the nature of Yahweh's love is known, thus his purposes are understood, and thus his promise of eternal salvation even exists.

And there are two kinds of people, those who believe all of this, beginning with Jesus, and those who don't. For those who don't it is crazy talk. I have seen this. I have seen the look on a face when the topic of Jesus' resurrection is mentioned. It is in that moment where they make a real decision. Before that, they may believe there exists God, they may be curious about creation, they may read the bible as wise council, they may even consider the teachings of Jesus, however ... belief in the resurrection is the deciding factor, and so often that is the moment the scoff.

However, not always. I have also seen the recognition and belief that, if all other aspects are true ... and there are too many coincidences through two millennia before that moment and two millennia after that moment to deny that moment itself ... that the resurrection must be real.

I would like to see that look more. In order to do so, I'll likely have to see the other look more. I will have to tell more people about Christ crucified, and watch many of them look at me like I'm foolish ... but also to see many of them awaken and be saved.

Prayer: Lord, may I have more opportunities, more wisdom, and more courage the pronounce Christ crucified, this day and every day. I am sure I am not the best at doing so, but I have total belief, and total faith in you. May my words never be mine, but only from you and your spirit. Amen.

Off to Visit Family

Scripture: Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus ... Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. Romans 16:3,13

Observation: Paul closes his letter to the Romans with a significant number of greetings. Many are just names, but these seem certainly significant. Priscilla and Aquila are a prominent couple who Paul first met in Corinth. In many ways they instructed Paul, or at least collaborated with him as he refined his gospel messages, and are often viewed as spiritual parents to Paul. Now, here they are in Rome .. they seem to be living there now, as verse 5 says to also greet the church meeting in their home.

The best-known Rufus in the bible is the son of Simon of Cyrene, the man pressed into service to help Jesus carry the cross. After that spectacle, it is church history that his sons became believers and Rufus appears in the history of the church. Jesus greets him and his mother ... but one other person, too. The verse says to greet Rufus, his mother ... and mine.

Paul is a Jew, yet he is going to Rome because he appealed on the authority of his natural-born Roman citizen to Caesar for justice. In Rome, it appears Paul is sending greetings to - and will visit - his own mother.

Paul isn't young, but he isn't necessarily old either. He is called a young man when first converted to faith. Upon conversion, his missionary travels begin ~15 years later, and last perhaps ~20 years. If this places Paul in a 55-ish age at this moment, which is about right since they believe he died at age ~61. It is therefore very possible that his mother - while old for the time - is still alive, and living is Rome as she is likely a Roman citizen having passed that birthright on to her son.

Another interpretation is that Rufus' mother has also been a mother to him. Which remains interesting, that he would be stating that the woman who has cared for him is now in Rome.

Application: There is so much one could speculate about this. Is this Paul's mother, or a mom-like figure in his life? Does he long to see her? Or is there tension since she's just the (...counting...) 19th person he greets, and not even by name?

The truth is, the circumstances of the relationship don't matter. Paul is a man with a mission, and the Lord will allow the mission and his "mother" to intersect. This seems to be evidence of how wonderful the family of Christ really is ... that a man whose first connection to faith came by witnessing the crucifixion is now either caring for the mother of the most active apostle to the gentiles, or his mom has become like a mom to Paul. Some of Paul's best friends are in this same church family. This is all true despite the fact he himself has never been there.

Paul is going to Rome. He is off to visit family ... brothers, sisters, and perhaps multiple sets of parents, perhaps literal and definitely spiritual. Jesus provides this family to everyone when they commit their faithful lives to the church, and certainly this will be a great blessing during one of the hardest times in Paul's life.

We need this blessing now! I need it. It is time for the church to re-assemble. Streaming video is great for outreach, but not for a bonding, loving family. Jesus told us to go on meeting together, and we need to be together again.

Prayer: Lord, I want my church back. I know I am bad with names, and I struggle with loving others, but I want to improve in these areas, and I want to do it within my family of faith. I ask that you call your sheep back into your presence, into community together, so we may love one another anew. Amen.